Article dispensing mechanism for a vending machine

ABSTRACT

A mechanism for vending articles from a coin operated machine including an elongated article storage bin displaceable from a storage position to a discharging position, a splitter bar for holding the balance of the articles in the storage bin during the discharging of an article, and means for returning the bin to the storage position.

United States Patent 1 Souza et al.

[451 Aug. 7, 1973 ARTICLE DISPENSING MECHANISM FOR A VENDING MACHINE [75] lnventors: George Souza, Hayward; Clyde D.

Pool, Oakland, both of Calif.

{73] Assignec: Gain Manufacturing Corporation, Oakland, Calif.

[22] Filed: June 20, 1972 (21] Appl. No.: 264,632

[52] US. Cl. 221/188 [51] Int. Cl. B653 59/06 [58] Field 01 Search 221/188, 189, 123,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,873,012 2/1959 Lux 221/189 X 2,832,453 4/1958 Anderson 221/188 X Primary Examiner-Stanley l-l. Tollberg Attorney-James R. Cypher [57] ABSTRACT A mechanism for vending articles from a coin operated machine including an elongated article storage bin displaceable from a storage position to a discharging position, a splitter bar for holding the balance of the articles in the storage bin during the discharging of an article, and means for returning the bin to the storage position.

3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENIEIH 3.750.831

SREEI 1 (If 2 PAIENImAuc nan SIEEI 2 0F 2 2. ii mbfi? 7 ARTICLE DISPENSING MECHANISM FOR A VENDING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to article vending machines which are operated wholly mechanically, i.e. by pushing inwardly a coin chute slide a distance of about 3 inches. Since the slide is operated by the thumb and one or two fingers, the power necessary to mechanically operate the vending mechanism is limited, especially when the vending machine must be designed to be operated by small children. Prior to the present invention, the vending machines had stationary article bins such as the type shown in US. Pat. No. 3,575,272. Such fixed bin machines worked satisfactorily with light weight articles such as dry food snacks and light articles such as nylon hosiery. The canned fruit juice and soda water beverages, however, were confined almost exclusively to expensive electrically driven vending machines because the weight of the canned goods made it too difficult for children, and in fact adults, to operate the machines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The gist of the present invention is the use of a moveable article bin which transfers the weight of the articles in the bin from the operating mechanism during a portion of the vending sequence to the vending machine frame.

An object of the present invention is to enable canned fruits, fruit juices, puddings and other relatively heavy canned goods to be dispensed in purely mechanically non-powered vending machines.

A further object is to provide a vending machine which will not discharge its contents unless activated by a coin even under distress conditions as by shaking and pounding.

Another object is to provide a vending machine which is durable, reliable, requires little maintenance, has few moving parts and is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a vending machine constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side cross sectional view of a portion of the device taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 3 is a side cross sectional view similar to that of FIG. 2 with the mechanism in the discharge position.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 2 taken along line 4-4.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 3 taken along line 5-5.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a portion of the machine taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The article dispensing mechanism of the present invention is part of a vending machine 2 having a coin chute mechanism 3 actuated by a coin; a selector mechanism operably connected to the coin chute mechanism which includes a selector arm 4, a pusher head 6, an actuating member 7, a guide arm 8, and an article chute 9. The improvement consists briefly of a displaceably mounted elongated article storage bin 11 operably connected to the pusher head having a first storage position, as shown in FIG. 2, and a second displaced discharge position, as shown in FIG. 3, and having an open top 12 for receiving articles and an open bottom 13 for discharging articles, and a splitter opening 14 in the backwall adjacent the discharge end; a splitter member 16 mounted for insertion through the splitter opening to temporarily support all of the articles 17a, 17b, 17c, and 17d in the bin except the lowest article 18; a storage shelf 19 mounted below the first position of the storage bin and adjacent the upper end. of the article shute; and means 21 biasing the bin to the first position.

One method of constructing the bin so that it is dis placable is to suspend the entire bin from a rod 22 which is journaled in openings in each side of the top of the bin so that it can rotate in the direction shown by the double arrow 23 in FIG. 2.. In order to prevent non-coin discharge of the articles, a lock means secures the bin in the first position with a latch means operable by the pusher head only.

The lock means consists of a guide member such as members 24 and 25 attached to the front face 27 of the bin. These members protrude from the front face a sufficient distance to permit the latch member 28 to slide therebetween from a first latched position as shown in FIG. 2 to a second unlatched position as shown in FIG. 3. The latch member may be constructed in various ways, one of which is shown in the drawings, and here consists of a pair of flat slide members 30 and 31 which are held in place by members 24 and 25, and a catch member 32 attached to the slide members at right angles. The bottoms of the slide members rest on the shelf 19 and the catch member extends beyond and below the shelf through opening 33 which serves as a stop means.

A cam member 34 is connected to the catch member and is mounted for operable engagement with the pusher head 6, which contacts the cam to lift the latch mechanism. In order to prevent the latch mechanism from being shaken out of its guide, a limit means 36 is mounted on the bin to catch the upper end 37 of the catch member 32 when the catch. is in the unlatched position as shown in FIG. 3. The limit means may be either a metal member attached to the bin or a deformed portion of the bin.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, each vending machine normally consists of a plurality of bins 35, 36 and 37, each constructed in identical manner to the bin above described and arranged in side by side relation. All of the bins may be pivotally attached to pin 22 which extends the full width of the vending machine. The ends of the pin are journaled at points 38 and 39.

A stop guide means consisting of a plurality of stop plates 41 are mounted on the vending machine providing spaces therebetween in alignment with the selected portions of the bins which receive the pusher head. The stop plates are mounted to engage the stop member 42 mounted on the rear portion 43 of the pusher member. The parts are arranged so that if the selector mechanism is aligned for movement against one of the bins, the stop member will pass between the stop guide plates. 0n the other hand, if the selector mechanism is not in alignment with one of the bins, the stop member will come in contact with one of the stop plates and the coin chute cannot be pushed in far enough to accept the coin. Thus it is impossible for the person to lose his coin without obtaining an article being vended.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows. A choice of one out of two or more articles is made by looking through the window 44 in which the same number of articles are displayed as their are bins. In this case, four articles 46, 47, 48 and 49 are in the window. A horizontal slot 51 having detents 52, 53, 54 and 55 corresponding to the four bins and the four displayed articles is formed below the window. The person grasps knob 56 and places the shaft 4 in the detent corresponding to the article selected. At this point, the stop member is aligned to pass between the stop plates. A coin is then inserted into a receiver 57 and finger engageable handle 58 is pushed toward the vending machine. The coin 59 drops into a coin box 60 and guide rail 61 mounted on the actuating member moves against depending legs 62 and 63 attached to the pusher head. As the actuating arm 64 of the coin chute mechanism travels forwardly, the foot member 66 rides onto the shelf member and the pusher head 6 engages the cam 34 causing an unlatching of the bin as the catch member 32 clears the opening in the shelf. The pusher head then engages the catch member 32 which in turn pushes against the bin. The bin is rotated in a counterclockwise direction as seen in FIG. 3 and the article to be vended slides or rolls toward the edge 67 of the shelf. Referring to FIG. 2, note that as the bin swings counterclockwise, the splitter member 16 is positioned to come between article 18 and 17a. As the shelf moves, the weight of all the articles except article 18 is transferred to the splitter plate so that the weight of the articles is never on the operating mechanism. The unique arrangement of the swing shelf requires that pressure be exerted on the lever 58 in an amount necessary to swing the bin. Since the weight is carried by the pin 32, the force necessary is minimal. When the shelf is swung completely to the discharge position, the article 18 falls off the end of the shelf, down the chute to be stopped against the end 68 of the article chute. Spring 21 then returns the bin to its first position and spring 69 returns the coin and selector mechanism to its original position. Catch member 32 drops down into opening 33 in the shelf and the bin is locked in position ready for the next cycle when another coin is inserted into the coin mechanism. The article is removed from the machine through opening 71.

It is to be noted that each bin has its own latch mechanism and is constructed in all respects in an identical manner to the bin mechanism just described.

In order to prevent operation of the coin chute mechanism if there are no articles to be vended, a blocker 72 is inserted above each stack of articles. The blocker consists of one or two pieces of metal. As here shown, the blocker consists of a J-shaped piece 73 having a width slightly less than the width of the bin in which it rides and a cross strap 74 connecting the shorter upright side 76 with the longer upright side 77. Lower side 78 of the blocker rides on the top of the uppermost article in the bin.

In operation, the blocker operates as follows. When the last article in the bin has been vended, the blocker rests on shelf 9. When the pusher head 6 moves against the bin, side 77 of the blocker jams against the end of the splitter plate 16 and prevents movement of the shelf. Thus, it is impossible for a person to lose his coin due to the fact that a particular bin is empty. The coin chute mechanism is prevented from being pushed in to the point where it will not return for purposes of retreiving the coin.

We claim: 1. An article dispensing mechanism for a vending machine having a coin chute mechanism actuated by a coin, a selector mechanism operably connected to said coin chute mechanism which includes a selector arm, a pusher head, an actuating member, a guide arm, and an article chute, the improvement consisting of:

a. a displaceably mounted elongated article storage bin operably connected to said pusher head having a first storage position and a second displaced discharge position and having an open top for receiving articles and an open bottom for discharging articles; and a splitter opening in the backwall adjacent the discharge end;

b. a splitter member mounted for insertion through said splitter opening to temporarily support all of the articles in said bin except the lowest article;

c. a storage shelf mounted below said first position of said storage bin and adjacent the upper end of said article chute;

d. means biasing said bin to said first position;

e. lock means securing said bin in said first position and having a latch means operable by said pusher head only;

f. said lock means consisting of a guide member mounted on the front face of said bin, an elongated latch member moveable from a first latched position to a second unlatched position, a cam member connected to said latch member and operably connected to said pusher member, and limit means limiting the upward travel of said latch member substantially beyond said second position;

g. stop means engaging said latch member in said first position of said bin; and

j. said stop means consisting of an opening in said shelf member in registration with said latch member.

2. An article dispensing mechanism as described in claim 1 comprising:

a. a plurality of said article storage bins arranged in side by side relation;

b. stop guide means permitting movement of said pusher head only when said head is in alignment with a selected portion of one of said bins;

c. said stop guide means consisting of a plurality of stop plates mounted on said vending machine pro- 50 viding spaces therebetween in alignment with said selected portions of said bins; and

d. a stop member mounted on the rear portion of said pusher member dimensioned to move between said stop plates when said selector mechanism is aligned for movement against one of said bins, and being disposed to engage one of said stop plates when said pusher head is not aligned for movement against a selected portion of one of said bins.

3. An article dispensing mechanism as described in claim 1 comprising:

a. means for blocking the swing of said bin upon vending of all of the articles from said bin; and

b. said blocking means consisting of a .l-shaped member having a side adapted for engaging said pusher head and another side for engaging said splitter member to prevent movement of said shelf from said first position to said second position. 

1. An article dispensing mechanism for a vending machine having a coin chute mechanism actuated by a coin, a selector mechanism operably connected to said coin chute mechanism which includes a selector arm, a pusher head, an actuating member, a guide arm, and an article chute, the improvement consisting of: a. a displaceably mounted elongated article storage bin operably connected to said pusher head having a first storage position and a second displaced discharge position and having an open top for receiving articles and an open bottom for discharging articles; and a splitter opening in the backwall adjacent the discharge end; b. a splitter member mounted for insertion through said splitter opening to temporarily support all of the articles in said bin except the lowest article; c. a storage shelf mounted below said first position of said storage bin and adjacent the upper end of said article chute; d. means biasing said bin to said first position; e. lock means securing said bin in said first position and having a latch means operable by said pushEr head only; f. said lock means consisting of a guide member mounted on the front face of said bin, an elongated latch member moveable from a first latched position to a second unlatched position, a cam member connected to said latch member and operably connected to said pusher member, and limit means limiting the upward travel of said latch member substantially beyond said second position; g. stop means engaging said latch member in said first position of said bin; and j. said stop means consisting of an opening in said shelf member in registration with said latch member.
 2. An article dispensing mechanism as described in claim 1 comprising: a. a plurality of said article storage bins arranged in side by side relation; b. stop guide means permitting movement of said pusher head only when said head is in alignment with a selected portion of one of said bins; c. said stop guide means consisting of a plurality of stop plates mounted on said vending machine providing spaces therebetween in alignment with said selected portions of said bins; and d. a stop member mounted on the rear portion of said pusher member dimensioned to move between said stop plates when said selector mechanism is aligned for movement against one of said bins, and being disposed to engage one of said stop plates when said pusher head is not aligned for movement against a selected portion of one of said bins.
 3. An article dispensing mechanism as described in claim 1 comprising: a. means for blocking the swing of said bin upon vending of all of the articles from said bin; and b. said blocking means consisting of a J-shaped member having a side adapted for engaging said pusher head and another side for engaging said splitter member to prevent movement of said shelf from said first position to said second position. 